Live music after the cyclone

I write this hunkering down at was 2021 and most musicians, out and play in I think he’s well worth a listen, so perhaps check out his Bandcamp page. It’s good honest stu and very appealing.

Tickets $20;

Meanwhile in Katikati world that yet more folk music is coming, but it indubitably is.

I seem to have written endlessly about touring folkies recently.

But there are also some very groovy Afrobeat grooves and more...

But, yep, rst it’s de nitely folk. On Friday, February 24, there are two folk singers coming to the Bay. One is coming to town at the Jam Factory, one is heading to Katikati’s Arts Junction. Both self-describe as full-time touring musicians; one is a Kiwi, the other is from Canada.

Monty Bevins is the New Zealander, whose music I like a lot. It is good, straight-ahead contemporary folk music. He has a solid voice and is con dent enough that he doesn’t need to show o , which certainly gets points from me. He writes a good song and mainly accompanies himself on guitar.

Travellers

Seven years of solid touring culminated in a 2018 EP, ‘Traveller’, and three years later, after experiencing the joys and tribulations of fatherhood, he followed that with the fulllength album, ‘Time To Bide’.

in Alberta. He rst hit 2007 and has since toured the United States, Europe, South Africa, Asia, Australia and here, while releasing seven albums of songs. And he’s fantastic. I’d never heard of him till last week but after extensive examination of YouTube and elsewhere you can de nitely call me a fan.

second single, ‘Say Can You See’, won the folk category in both the 2020 UK Songwriting Competition and the 2020 Great American Song Contest. I would recommend him very highly.

Tickets $20 for Katikati Folk Club members, $25 for non-members; show 7.30pm.

Afrobeat feast

Next night, Saturday, February 25, over at e Mount’s Totara Street, there’s a feast of Afrobeat music courtesy of Ozi Ozaa. Band leader Yaw Asumadu is a master drummer, composer, African autist, bass guitarist and xylophone player. In 2018 he moved to New Zealand and formed Ozi Ozaa, an 11-piece combining funk and jazz with highlife and traditional African rhythms. ey have members who have previously played in bands such as Batucada Sound Machine, Tahuna Breaks, e Scribes of Ra, Ijebu Pleasure Club and many others. Last time they played at Totara Street it sold out. Tickets are going fast at $25, show-time is 8pm.

Amongst Ozi Ozaa’s various percussionists is drummer Paul Hoskin, once of Wellington acid-jazz organ trio Twinset. at band is currently reuniting for a new album and Paul is also lling the drum stool for Bay of Plenty favourites Kokomo while drummer Ian ‘Beano’ Gilpin recovers from a torn Achilles tendon.

nomination (Songwriter of the Year – English) while its

Paul will be in action with Kokomo on the Sunday afternoon, February 26, at the Jam Factory. Tickets $25; show 3pm. Simultaneously it’s time for Totara Street’s monthly Chur Chon Sndy, on February 26 – a free session with accompanying barbecued food kicking o at 2pm. is month will feature eir ere, Crooked Finger, Anthony Coulter, Cristy Ana and Crystal Starr.